Noting that 2018 will mark the centenary of the birth of the late Nelson Mandela, the UN General Assembly will convene the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit on 24 September 2018 at UN Headquarters in New York, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 72/243. In July 2018 (date TBD), the co-facilitators of the preparatory process for the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit will convene a one-day preparatory meeting at UN Headquarters in New York. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), UN-NGLS is facilitating a process to identify stakeholder participants in the September Summit and July preparatory meeting.

Apply to speak or attend: President of the General Assembly's Youth Dialogue - 30 May 2018, UNHQ in NY

The President of the General Assembly is convening a one-day Youth Dialogue on Wednesday, 30 May 2018 at UN Headquarters in New York with the aim to discuss education, employment, and the prevention of radicalization leading to violent extremism. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), UN-NGLS facilitated a process to identify stakeholders to speak during the "open mic" session, and for stakeholders to apply to attend this event as observers.

Apply to speak or attend: President of the General Assembly's High-level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace

The President of the General Assembly is convening a two-day high-level meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, 24-25 April 2018 at United Nations Headquarters in New York with the aim to discuss ways to support peace in practice. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), UN-NGLS and the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office are facilitating a process to identify eight stakeholder respondents for the interactive dialogues, and for stakeholders to apply to attend this event as observers.

Stakeholder Consultation on the UN Development System Review Process

At the request of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, UN-NGLS facilitated a civil society consultation from October to December 2017 to discuss the ongoing review of the UN development system, open to representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, philanthropy, academia, and social entrepreneurs. This was the official channel for these stakeholders to provide analysis of the findings of the Secretary-General’s June 2017 report and submit proposals to inform the ongoing process of repositioning of the UN development system, particularly related to activity at the country level, ahead of the Secretary-General’s second report. Click 'Read More' to access the final consultation summary report, the Secretary-General’s second report, and info about the consulation process.

Solutions Summit 2017

Solutions Summit is an annual catalytic gathering at UN Headquarters in New York during UN General Assembly high-level week in September. This initiative lifts-up and advances the work of exceptional teams who are already developing innovative solutions that address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Solutions Summit 2017 took place 19-21 September in the UN SDG Media Zone - a live broadcast event space at the United Nations focused on the SDGs - and involved in-person accelerator sessions and social media interaction with the selected solution-makers. Solutions Summit 2017 highlighted projects that advance the objectives of one or more of the 17 SDGs. Click 'Read More' to access videos from the event and more information about the process.

Apply: Sessions and hearings of prep process for a Global Compact on Migration

At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly, UN-NGLS, UN DESA, UN University and the UN Global Compact, with support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), are facilitating stakeholder participation in the Thematic Sessions and Multi-stakeholder Hearings of the UN General Assembly preparatory process for a global compact on migration.

Apply: 27-28 September 2017 UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on the appraisal of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons

On 27-28 September 2017, the President of the UN General Assembly will convene a two-day High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, in accordance with resolution 71/287. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), the UN-NGLS NY office is facilitating a process to identify stakeholders wishing to speak in either of the two panel discussions of the High-level Meeting, and stakeholders wishing to attend this event as observers.

Apply: High-level Meeting of UN General Assembly on the New Urban Agenda and UN-Habitat, 5-6 September 2017 at UN Headquarters in New York

On 5-6 September 2017, the President of the UN General Assembly will convene a two-day High-level Meeting of the General Assembly to discuss the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the positioning of UN-Habitat in this regard, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 71/256. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), UN-NGLS is facilitating a process to identify:

3 stakeholder representatives to speak at the end of each of the two plenary segments;

3 stakeholders to speak during the panel discussion on "Implementing the New Urban Agenda and the SDGs - the role of the multi-stakeholder collaboration";

stakeholders to ask questions during the panel discussions (via video);

Apply to speak at, attend, or serve on Selection Committee: UN President of General Assembly's SDG Action Event on Education, 28 June 2017 at UNHQ

On 28 June 2017, the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Peter Thomson, convened Member States, the UN System, and stakeholders at the United Nations Headquarters in a High-level SDG Action Event on Education. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly, UN-NGLS facilitated a process to identify youth civil society or social entrepreneur speakers as well as stakeholders of any age wishing to attend this event as observers.

Apply to attend or submit video statements: 23 June UNGA Multi-stakeholder Hearing on the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons

On 23 June 2017, the UN General Assembly conducted an informal Interactive multi-stakeholder hearing for the review of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA) and UNODC, UN-NGLS facilitated a process for stakeholders to apply to attend this event, or to submit video statements to be considered for use during the hearings.

24 April High-level Event on Ending Violence against Children - 1:15pm at UNHQ

24 April 2017, 1:15-2:30pm Conference Room 12 at UN Headquarters

Violence affects a billion children every year. It happens in every country, city and community. Therefore, it takes all of us - the entire international community - to end violence against girls and boys. World Vision, together with the Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Panama, Thailand, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children, and UN-NGLS, convened this high-level event to reflect and share on World Vision's "It Takes a World" campaign, which aims to ignite partnerships, raise awareness, and strengthen accountability to end violence against girls and boys. The event was web cast live and can be viewed here.

Civil society and social entrepreneurs: Apply to speak at or attend the President of the General Assembly's High-level SDG Financing Lab - 18 April 2017 at UNHQ

On 18 April, the President of the General Assembly will convene a High-level SDG Financing Lab to highlight the critical importance of sustainable financing for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including climate action. The event will focus on how to drive the transformation to align financial markets with sustainable development, as well as showcase concrete ways in which UN Member States can approach the financing of different SDGs. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), UN-NGLS is facilitating a process to identify four civil society or social entrepreneur speakers, as well as stakeholders wishing to attend the event as observers.

Apply to Speak or Attend: UN High-level Action Event on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Agenda -- 23 March 2017 at UN Headquarters

On 23 March 2017, the President of the 71st UN General Assembly, Ambassador Peter Thomson, in collaboration with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ms. Patricia Espinosa, will convene Member States, the UN System, and stakeholders at United Nations Headquarters in a High-level Action Event on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Agenda. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), UN-NGLS is facilitating a process to identify two civil society speakers, one social entrepreneur speaker, and stakeholders wishing to attend as observers.

Apply to Attend 17 February High-level Meeting commemorating International Convention for Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

In accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 70/160 of 10 February 2016, the President of the General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The meeting will be held on 17 February 2017 at UN Headquarters in New York. This important event will provide an opportunity to review the positive impact of the Convention during these first ten years and to discuss ways and best practices to prevent enforced disappearances, to combat impunity and to promote and protect all human rights for all. The program of work includes three segments: the Opening Segment, the Plenary Segment, and a Panel Discussion that will include interactive dialogue. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly, UN-NGLS is facilitating a process for civil society to apply to attend this special event as observers. DEADLINE: 10 February 2017

Apply to Speak or Attend: 24 January 2017 President of the United Nations General Assembly's High-level Dialogue on "Building Sustainable Peace for All"

In recognition of the fundamental interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda and Sustaining Peace, the President of the General Assembly will convene a High-level Dialogue entitled "Building Sustainable Peace for All: Synergies between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustaining Peace Agenda" on 24 January 2017 at UN Headquarters in New York, with the participation of the President of the Security Council, the President of the Economic and Social Council, and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) is facilitating a process to identify two civil society speakers, and other civil society attendees wishing to be considered as observers for this event.